20 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
away it would be necessary for liim to remove the establishment to 
a more secure position; that within 4 years previous, 4 miles had gone 
entirely from the west end, leaving but a mile between him and the 
sea which was advancing steadily. On the north side an area equal 
to 4,0 ft. wide and 3 miles long had gone bodily from the island during 
a single night. He intended to move the buildings to a place called 
Midcjle Houses', 3 miles further east. 
"In 1S20 the Superintendent again wrote the Government, that 
not only had the old site of the main station gone seaward; but the 
sea was again encroaching to such an alarming extent that he would 
be obliged to once more remove the station, and had selected a place 
known as the 'Haul over,' 4 miles further east. Here it enjoyed a 
short respite when again the sea threatened its foundation. * * * 
again the sea advanced, the two following winters were noted for the 
frequency of storms, and the havoc made along the sand cliffs, every 
gale sensibly diminishing the western portion of the island, toppling 
great masses of sand hills into the surf below as well as changing the 
surface of the interior. One instance * * * when thousands of 
tons of sand were carried from the beach and strewn over the island, 
smothering vegetation, so that hundreds of horses died for want of 
food."i 
It has been argued by J. B. Gilpin^, and following him by Prof. 
John Macoun^ that the action of the wind is here alwaj's constructive, 
that it takes the sand from the dry upper beach, moves it inland and 
builds it up into the dunes, but that it does not act as a waster. It 
does build up, of course, but on the lee side it is also picking up the 
sand grains and carrying them out over the sea, where at the slightest 
lull they drop into the water, and are lost, as far as Sable Island is 
concerned. That the wind is constantly shifting the sand in what- 
ever direction the wind happens to blow, is forcibly brought to the 
attention of anyone who ventures out of doors in a strong wind. If 
the wind is blowing 20 miles an hour or more, it picks up so much sand 
that it acts like a veritable sand-blast. In consequence all the lights 
of glass in the windows become quickly dulled and soon so abraded 
that they are no longer transparent but only translucent. Any trav- 
eller feels it and is forced to shield his eyes, face, and hands from its 
severe action. 
1 Macdonald, S. D.: Trans. N. S. Inst. Nat. Sci. vi. part 2, 113 (1884). 
2 Gilpin, J. B.: Sable Island, 19 (1858). 
2 Ann. Rep. Geol. Surv. Can. n. s. xii. 213A (1899). 
